Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34895282›Full record

ArticleCost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E2021

Recommendations to improve insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran: a multi criteria decision-making approach.

Saeed Shahabi, Dimitrios Skempes, Masoud Behzadifar, Reza Tabrizi, Behrooz Nazari, Mahboubeh Khaton Ghanbari, Seyed Taghi Heydari, Leila Zarei, Kamran Bagheri Lankarani

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Article in Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Saeed ShahabiHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Dimitrios SkempesIndependent Researcher, Zofingen, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5099-8839
Masoud BehzadifarSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Reza TabriziNoncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
Behrooz NazariRehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahboubeh Khaton GhanbariHealth Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Taghi HeydariHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. heydari.st@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7711-1137
Leila ZareiHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Kamran Bagheri LankaraniHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Funding

National Institute for Medical Research Development 987627
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigh toll of traffic-related injuries, climate change, natural disasters, population aging, as well as chronic diseases have all made considerable demands on receiving physiotherapy services in Iran. Nevertheless, there is an assortment of complications facing utilization of such services, particularly poor insurance coverage. Therefore, the present study investigated and identified gaps in insurance coverage in order to inform future policy reforms and the design of a more comprehensive and universal benefits package for physiotherapy services in Iran.

methodsThis project was carried out in Iran, using a mix-methods (viz. qualitative-quantitative) approach. Within the first phase, a qualitative study was completed to find policy recommendations. Such recommendations were then prioritized through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), in the second phase, based on effectiveness, acceptability, cost, fairness, feasibility, and time.

resultsWithin the first phase, a total number of 30 semi-structured interviews with health policy-makers, health insurers, faculty members, rehabilitation experts, and physiotherapists were completed. Several policy recommendations were also proposed by the study participants. Following the second phase, prioritized recommendations were provided to promote stewardship (e.g., informing policy-makers about physiotherapy services), collection of funds (e.g., placing value-added taxes on luxury goods and services), pooling of funds (e.g., moving allocated resources towards insurance (viz. third-party) mechanism), purchasing (e.g., using strategic purchasing), and benefit package (e.g., considering preventive interventions) as the main components of insurance coverage.

conclusionThe study findings provided a favorable ground to improve insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran. As well, decision- and policy-makers can place these recommendations on the agenda in the health sector to protect population health status, especially that of groups with disabilities.

Indexed as

Analytical hierarchy processHealth policyInsurance coveragePhysiotherapyRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID34895282
PMCPMC8666042

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